Plano-based Catalyst Health Network says that, for the year ending March 31, 2017, its collaborative care initiative with Cigna indicates that Catalyst is improving health outcomes and lowering costs for more than 26,000 Cigna customers in North Texas.

Catalyst, a clinically integrated network of primary care providers, says that its quality index—which measures how well doctors comply with evidence-based medical guidelines—was 5 percent higher than the Dallas-Fort Worth market for the year ending March 31. Catalyst says it also lowered the Cigna group’s total medical costs 5.6 percent better than the market.

Factors driving its results, Catalyst says, included 4.5 percent more diabetes patients whose blood sugars were well-controlled, 10.9 percent better use of appropriate imaging in back pain, hospital admissions that were 19 percent lower than the market, and emergency room visits that were 11 percent lower than the market.

“We are incredibly proud of the results achieved as we continue our commitment to improve quality health care while reducing patients costs,” Dr. Christopher Crow, president of Catalyst Health Network, said in a news release. “Our relationship with Cigna is making a positive impact on our patients’ health and the care they receive from our physicians.”

Cigna Collaborative Care is Cigna’s approach to accomplishing the same goals as accountable care organizations. The health insurer has more than 190 ACO-like arrangements with primary care and multi-specialty groups and integrated delivery systems in 31 states.

Catalyst, a clinically integrated network of 515 primary care providers, 140 office locations, 750,000 patients, and 70 care team members, has been a member of Cigna’s Value-Based Contract since 2015. The network is managed by StratiFi Health, a physician services and population health organization.